Cash-register.



F. SKERL.

CASH REGISTER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 11. I912.

Patented Oct. 23, 1917.

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@ mwmw Frazgdsco Sfferl l I I awe F. SKERL.

' CASH REGISTER. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 11. 1912.

1,243,992. Patented Oct. 23,1917.

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a. m Fm 11am! ww v Mug 3 F. SKERL.

CASH REGISTER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 17. 1912.

1,243,992. Patented Oct. 23,1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Witwmaw 81 5' Swim/tot F. SKERL.

CASH REGISTER.

APPLICATION FILE'D FEB. 17. I912.

Patented Oct. 23, 1917.

4 SHEETSSHEET 4.

' awmuto'c I FBANCESCO'SKERL, or DAYTON, onr nssmnon-gmornnwarronnncasmnners'rnn' COMPANY, or arren; 01110, A conrona'rreu oronro; qnoonr'pr nrnn nr 1906.)

CASH-REGISTER;

To all whom it may concern: a

Be it known that- I, FiiANoEsco, SKERL, a citizen of Austria, residingat Dayton, in the county of Montgomery andLState of Ohio, haveinventedcertain new and useful Im grovements. in I Cash-Registers, of which Iveclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description, I IThis invention relates .tmacdountin'g ma} chines and more particularly.to the accumulating mechanism, thereof. v

Heretofore vcalculating machines have, been designed loaddamounts by,operating the totalizer in an additive direction, andto subtract'amountsby operating the totaliz er in a subtractive. direction. The presentapplicant is thought to be the first who, has designed anfaccumulatin'gdevice adapted to accumulate amounts by. operating the accumulator andactuators the Shortest possible extent, whether, it. bein-an additive,or subtractive direction, and to provide mechanism I for automaticallyeffecting the movement. of:

the actuators and accumulator and control.- ling said movement both asto direction and extent.

The principal object of this invention is I to provide an accumulator,the elements of which are moved in the shorter distance in theaccumulating of items, by the employment of subtraction of complementsofamounts,

Another object of this invention is to pro-- vide actuators for theelements of the accumulator, which actuators are variably m0v able indifferent directions for the purpose of effecting the accumulation ofitems on the accumulator.

A further object of this invention is to providemanipulative devices fordetermin ing both the direction and extent of move ment of theactuators.

A still iurther object of this invention is toprovide normallyinoperative transfer devices which are rendered operative by theaccumulating elements in either direction of movement of said elements.

' With these and incidental objects in view, theinvention consists incertain novel features of construction and combinations'of parts, theessential; elem n sof which a e.

Specification of Letters -Yatel t Oct, 23; 19117; Applicatiqnfiledrefine y-1 912; Sqr ai'Ke,e?,1e2. i A I i set. o nenp aded, aims, an aPr 9m .5- mbodiment. lf h fi s. hereinafter described, with reference toI the drawings which accompany and form I part of the 'specification. 1

ur 1 r p e e t ,ndflfb ev t pn' sh i a h o e tes ar ie b 1 e m chi e mng; h were m t one mo ments Fig, 2- is a; central transverse sectionalview through, the improved machine.

Fig; 3 is an enlarged sectional view showing the accumulator and theactuators therefor, thevarious parts being innormal position. I Y

. Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view through the accumulator, showing.said accumulator in engagement with the intermediate gearswhich form apartj'oij the actu a c I.

'Fig. 5 is a detail elevation ofthe opera-t ingmechanism for'moving theaccumulator into engagement with the actuators.

Fig- 6 is a detail view time off the key operated slides and connectionsfor control ling the enga ement of its corresponding actuator with t edriving mechanism.

Fig. 7 is a detail view of the key latching detent.

Fig. 8 is a detail view of the cam and connections for operating the keydetent shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a detail view of the. cam and pitman for alining theindicating mechanism. I

Fig. L0 is a detail view of the operating mechanism for controlling theengagement between the actuators and the driving mechanism.

' Heretofore in accounting machines the elements of the accumulator werealways driven in one constant direction in the accumulating of items,With the improved mechanism about to be described the accumulatorelements are always driven to add in the shorter direction, that is tosay, if the. elements stand at zero and it is desired to enter an itemthereon including a series of nines, the elements instead of being movednine spaces in an additive direction, as heretofolfirfirc moved in asubtractive direction one space only. In entering any of the digits fromone to five, the accumulator ele' ments are moved in an additivedirection, but when the digits from six to nine are entered, the saidelements are moved in a subtractive direction distances corresponding tothe complement of the digit being accumulated. It is immaterial in whichdirection the elements are moved in entering the digit five, as ineither case the element is moved five spaces and it could be arranged tomove in a subtractive just as'well as in an additive direction, but asshown in the drawings, the digit five is entered by moving theaccumulator elements in an additive direction.

The construction outlined operates on a principle which as far asknownis novel in the art, namely, the principle of complemen-' tarysubtraction. F or example, if 762 appears on the totalizer and thenumber 375 is to be added, this may be done either by direct addition orby subtracting the complement of each digit of the number 37 5, that isby subtracting 735. In either case the numeral wheels would indicate037, and, neglecting questions of the transfer mechanism, this is thetrue result; The machine might, therefore, be designed to subtract inevery case the complement of the amount to be added. The machine to bedescribed, however, does not do this. It adds directly amounts from oneto five units but subtracts the complements of amounts from six to nineunits. Therefore the totalizer wheels are never moved more than fiveunits at a time and may be moved either forwardly or reversely to add orsubtract respectively, de pending upon the amount to be added.

It will be clear that the transfer devices usually employed intotalizing machines will not be sufiicient to take care of an operationof the type outlined. The Wheels may move additively and therefore theordinary type of transfer is necessary, that is a transfer is requiredwhen any wheel passes from nine to zero positions in an addingdirection. However, a transfer may be required if a wheel moves in thesubtracting direction. For example, if the totalizing wheels indicate 14and 9 isadded by the subtraction of 1, clearly the result should be 23and this requires atransfer movement to be given to the tens wheel.However, a transfer is not necessary at every subtracting movement. Forexample, the wheelsmay stand at 11 and 8 be added thereto by subtracting2. This reverse or subtracting movement of two steps of the unit wheelwill clearly bring it to indicate 9, but no transfer to the tens wheelshould take place.

It will be seen that in every case the question whether or not atransfer should occur on a subtracting movement of any wheel isdetermined by the question whether the wheel passes the zero position ina subtracting direction. If the Wheel merely reaches the zero position,then a transfer should take place, but if the wheel passes beyond thezero osition, then a transfer is not re quired Therefore the transfermechanism which operates when the wheels move subtractively may beconstructed to be tripped or set for operation at any subtracting orreverse movement of any totalizer-v-wheel, but

should be reset if the wheel passes or leaves the zero position thereof.In the present case a single transfer device for the wheel is provided,effective in either adding or subtracting directions of movement. In theadding direction it operates in a manner well known in the art. In'thesubtracting direction it is tripped by the first movement of anytotalizer wheel and remains tripped and is effective unless thetotalizer wheel passes through its zero position, when it is reset ori'ender'e'd'ineflectiv'ei' v The "actuators for"theaccumulator elementsare arranged to'be'moved variable distances in different directions' inorder to impart an additive or subtractive movement to the accumulatorelements, the extent and direction of movement of the actuators beingcontrolled by manipulative devices in the form of keys. Suitablemechanism is provided forpositioning a series of indicators inaccordance with the adjustment of the actuators.

The machine to which these improvements have been applied comprises aplurality of banks of value keys 1 Which are guided in key frames 2, thelatter being supported by transverse shafts 3 and 1, which in turn aresupported by the side frames 5 of the machine. The keys 1 are normallyheld in their outermost ositions by coil springs 6, which surround t einner reduced portion of said keys, the ends of said springs abuttingagainst shoulders formed by the reduced portion of said keys and aflange formed upon a portion of the key uide frame 2. Adjacent to eachbank of eys is a detent plate 7 (Figs. 2 and 7) which has projectingtherefrom lugs 8, which, when any of the keys is depressed, engage withshoulders 9 formed on the keys and latch them in their depressedpositions. Each detent plate is pivotally supported by parallel links11, which are pivotally mounted upon the key frame 2 by studs 12 screwedinto said key frame. Each of the detents is held with its lugs 8 incontact with the upper surfaces of the keys 1 by springs 13.

If a key has been depressed by mistake it may be released by theoperation of a lever 130 which is secured to one end of the lower mostshaft 3 (Figs. 2 and 7). Secured to and projecting rearwardly from theshaft 3 is a plurality of arms 131, one for each bank arrays. Each rthese ti is direc'flybeneath the lowermost supporting links 11 of thedetents 7 and 'by this means the detents will be elevatedto release thekey or keys depressed upon the rocking of the shaft 3 by the lever 130.The keys are also released by another 'meansnear t'he end of the"operation of the machine as hereinafter described.

rCq ip ratin with each bankof keys is an actuator 14 igs. '2 and 3)which is pivotallyinounted'iipon 'astu'd 15 projecting from itscorresponding key frame 2. Pivoted adj ac'entto the actuator 14 of eachbank is the driving mechanism therefor, which comprises two segmentalplates 16, which are simultaneously moved in, opposite directions edupon'the actuator 14. Projecting from 'th'e'arms 17 of each'of'theflatching devices is a stud 19, which plays in a forked portion20 of a multi-pronged lever 21, the latter being pivotally 'mounted asat 22 'upon the actuator 14. Projecting fromone of the prongs of each ofthe levers 21, carried by each of the actuators 14, is a boss 23andjprojecting from said boss "is a stud 24. Engaging with the boss '23and stud 24 of the uppermost lever 21 of each of the actuators 14 arearms 25 and 26 respectivelyfthe former being secured to the shaft 4while the latter is loosely mounted upon said shaft and is of a bellcrank formation as plainly shown in Fig. 2, The upper end of thevertical portionof the bell crank 26 is provided with an angled slot 27in one portion of which rests a pin .28 projecting from a bell crank 29,which is supported by the stud 12 projecting from the key frame, Theother end of thebell crank 29 is pivoted to the upper end ofa plate 30,the lower end of which is pivoted to a link 31, which is v supported bythe lower stud 12. ,This plate 30 has a series of inclined notches'32formed therein, which coiiperate with the key pins 33 of the fiveuppermost keys, and said plate is also provided with a series of fourradial slots 34 with which cotiperate the pins 33 of the fourlowermostkeys. From this it will be seen that it will be impossible topress a key of the lowermost series and one of the uppermost series inthe same bank owing to the different angles of the slots 32 and 34 cutin the' plates 30, the purpose of which is to prevent the engagement ofboth of the latching devices carried by the actuator 14 with theirrespective driving segments 16 as will more fully hereinafter appear.

' Ajspring 135, connected at its ends to pins 136, one of which projectsfrom the plate 30 and the other projects from the key frame '2 through aslot in the plate, holds the plate 30 in the position shown in Fig. 2with the pin 28 of the supporting bell crank link in one end of theangle slot 27 of the lever 26.

From the above description and by reference to Fig. 2 it will be seenthat when any one of the five uppermost keys is depressed the plate 30will be moved downwardly by the pin 33 of the depressed key contactingwith the. inclined wall of its companion slot 32. This lowering of theplate will rock the arm 29 in an anti-clockwise direction so as to carrythe pin 28 projecting from the rearward portion thereof in thehorizontal portion of the slot 27, thereby permitting the rocking ofthebell crank arm 26 in an anti-clockwise direction. This rocking of thearm 26 would immediately take place upon the depressing of the key by aspring 35 rocking the lever 21, if it were not for the arm 25 whichengages the boss 23 on the lever 21. Spring 35 is interposed between astud 36 projecting from the actuator 14 and one of the arms of the lever21. Upon the very beginning of the operation of the machine, after a keyhas been depressed, the arm 25 will be carried away from the boss 23 andthereby permit the spring 35 to rock the lever 21 in an anticlockwisedirection. This rocking of the lever will move the bar 17 of the upperlatch device inwardly so as to be engaged by a shoulder 37 formed uponone of the driving segments 16. Upon the further operation of themachine the segment 16 cooperating with this latch device will be movedin an anti-clockwise direction and, through bar 17 of the uppermostlatch device, drive the actuator in a similar direction, the extent ofmovement imparted to the actuator 14 by the driving segment 16 beingdetermined by the depressed key. As the actuator 14 is moved along byits driving segment 16 a prong 38 of the lever 21 will contact with theinner end of the depressed key just as the actuator is moved an extentcorresponding to the key depressed, and as the driving segment 16continues its movement in a counterclockwise direction will cause thewithdrawal of the arm 17 from engagement with the shoulder 37 of thedriving segment by the rocking of the lever 21 in a clockwise direction.This withdrawal of the arm 17 from engagement with the shoulder 37 willcause the outer bevel end of said arm to enter one of a series ofnotches 39 formed in a latch plate 40 secured to the corresponding keyframe, and thereby latch the actuator 14 from accidental displacement,the inner end of the arm 17 riding upon the surface of the segment 16while said segment conarms; of'the lever 21.

tinues its movement in an anti-clockwise direction.

This segment is given a movement of about 45 degrees in ananti-clockwise direction and then returned in a clockwise direction toits normal position. As the driving segment is returned to its normalposition the rearward edge thereof will contact with the flange Llprojecting from the actuator 14 and return said actuator to normalposition, the arm 17 being permitted to disengage from the latch plate40 by the reduced portion of the driving segment forming the shoulder 37presenting itself to the inner end of the arm 17, which then will berocked into said reduced portion by the spring 35 interposed between thelug 36 and one of the As the parts reach normal position the boss 23 ofthe lever 21 will be engaged by the arm 25 and thereby rock said lever21 in a clockwise direction so as to disengage the arm 17 from theshoulder 37 of the driving segment 16.

Cotiperating with the four lowermost keys of each bank is a plate verysimilar to the plate 30, which coliperates with the five uppermost keysbut with the slots 32 and 34 formed therein reversely arranged, that is,the cam slots 32 are at the lower portion of the plate cooperating withthe four lowermost keys while the radial slots are formed in the upperportion of the plate andcooperate with the five uppermost keys. Thisplate is supported upon the aforesaid studs 12 by arms similar to thearms 29 and 31 as described in connection with the first mentioned plate30. A latching mechanism carried by the actuator 14: for connecting saidactuator with one of the driving segments 16 is controlled by the fourlowermost keys in identically the same manner as the here toforegdescribed latching device controlled by the five uppermost keys, and itis thought that a detailed description of said latching device and thecontrol thereover by the keys cooperating therewith need not be given,it being sufiicient to state that when this latching device connects theactuator 14 with the driving segment 16, which is driven first in aclockwise direction and then returned in an anti-clockwise direction toits normal po-' sition, the said actuator will be correspondingly moved,from which it will be noted that the actuator is driven in an oppositedirection when under the control of the four lowermost keys than when itis under the;

parts it is thought their operation will be clearly understood. A numberof the refer-'.

ence numerals have been left off of Fig. 2!

i. then back to its normal figure, but all of said numerals are shown inFig. 3 which is an enlarged view of Fig. 2.

The arms 25 which contact with the bosses 23 of the upper and lowerlatching device's carried by the actuators 1'4 are'secured to theshafts-4 and are arranged to be withdrawn simultaneously from engagementwith their respective bosses 23 by a link 42, which connects armstBsecured to and projecting in an op osite direction from theshafts 4:(Fig. 10 The uppermost one of these shafts 4 has extending forwardlytherefrom an arm 44 which is connected to theforward end of a pitman 45,the lower and rearward end of which is forked so as to straddle a rotaryshaft 46. This pitman near its rearward end has projecting therefrom aroller 47 which plays in a cam groove 48 formed in a disk 49 secured tothe shaft 4:6. From the shape of the cam groove 48 in the disk 49, asshown in Fig. 10, it will'be seen that upon the beginning ofthel'rotation of the shaft in thedirection of the arrow, in said figure,the pitm an will be movedf downwardly and rearwardly'wliicli will rockthe uppermost shaft L in an anti-clockwise direction, while the lowershaft 1} will be rocked ina clockwise direction by the link connection42 heretofore described. The withdrawal of the arms 25 from the bosses23 of the levers 21 of the latching-or connecting mechanism occursimmediately upon the operation of the machine and before the drivingsegments 16 have started to move. The purpose of this early operation ofthe arms 25 is to insure the engagement of the actuator with the drivingsegments previous to the movement. of said segments.

The segments 16 are connected by links 170 to arms 480 secured-to rockshafts 490, the latter being suitably supported in -'the side frames 5of the machine. Secured'to the lowermost shaft 490 is 'a bell cranklever 50, the ends'of'which are provided with rollers 51 and 52. Theroller 51 rides upon the surface of a cam disk 53 while the roller 52bears against the surface of a cam disk 54:, the disks being spacedapart by a plate 55, and suitably secured to the rotary shaft 46. Thearm of the bell crank 50 carrying the roller 51 is connected by a link'56 to an the bell crank 50 first in a clockwise direction and then backtonormal position. This rocking of the bell crank 50 will, through thelink 56 and arm 57, rock the upper shaft 490 first in an anti-clockwisedirection and position. This rocking of the shaft 490 wi through thelinks for fear that the lead lines to said numeralsfiflo and arms 480,rock the upper driving would interfere with the reading of said segment16 in an anti-clockwise direction .lato'r frame.

of this pitman is the shaft -65, while the upper-end thereof arereturned to their normal positions [with the rock shafts490.

The accumulator about to be described is so constructed that theelements thereof are capable .of being driven in di-fierent directionsin accumulating ,the total thereon. -When' an amount-from one to five.is to be accumulated, by any ,one of the accumulator elements the latter.is moved in angadditive {direction an extent corresponding to thedigit-to be accumulated. .If it is desired to enter ,an amountrepresented :by a digit above five upon one of :the' accumulatorelements, .the element is moved in a sub tractive direction an extentcorresponding to the complement of the-digit to beaconinulated, that is,ifsix is to beentered upon the accumulator; the ,element is moved sill asubtractive direction four spaces, which is the complement ofisix, or ifnine is to be accumulated, the element is moved subtrac Mounted upon atransverse shaft .58,

which is located beloxvitheskey banks and in f-rontof the actuators-14,is a series of gears 59, one .for each actuator, and which areconstantly in .mesh with said actuators and consequently receive thesame degrees. of

movement asare imparted to theactuators.

In front of the gears 59 are locatedthe ele- :.ments=60 oftheaccumulator. Each of these elements has secured thereto a pinion 61,iwhich is arrangedito be -engaged with the pinions 59 and to be driventhereby. These accumulator elements 60 are loosely. supported .upon ashaft 562 which inturn is supported by side arms 63..of the accumu-These :arms' are connected by a cross bar 64 and are loosely mounted .at

rtheirzlower ends upon ashaft 65, seeFigs.

3,4; and .5. This shaft 65 has secured thereto aidisk 66 (Fig. '5)formed with'a cam .groove 67, in which plays a :roller 68 projectingfrom a pitman-69. The lower end forked so as to straddle is connected toan arm rigid andextendmg rearwardly from the aforementioned shaft 58.Adjacent to eachofthe side arms 03 .of the accumulator frame is theforward end of an arm'7l which extends rearwardly and is secured to theshaft-58. Theforward -man 69-W1ll'b8 elevated and rockvthe arms 70 and71 in an anti-clockwise direction. This movement of the .arms '71,through their c am slots 72, ,will .carry the .pinions ,61 of theaccumulator wheels into engagement .withthepinions 59, which as statedab ve are constantly in mesh withthe actuators 14 engagement of, the,accumulator pinions 61 and the ,pinions e9, forming a ,part ofthe,actuat ors, occurs beforethe ac tuators are moved. i

.When the accumulator .elements', and I the actuators areconnected,',.the,elements are I mo e in andfil i rd 'eqt ysl i by heu ia w(;F -,.3 an e the I actuators are ,under. control p of the five uppermost keys and when. the actuators are ,under .the contlfil qf the .four,lowermost lceys ,of the different banks ,the accumulator elements are,driven illlhj), subtractive dise .1 1 a indi a ed by i e e tarrows Ewath -.d s rip ione ithe y of P stat on; a th rmeehan m be r d y,understood. An amount of from one to five unitsis ;added. by directaddition, while an amount of j from six to nine units is added gbysubtracting the complement ,the to- ,talizer ,wheel Thisis accomplishedby the 'minethe directiontof movement of the add- ..,ing.,vvleels,as-.Well as the extent -,pf their movement, It is therefore desired.to. claim gthese features broadly without limitation to theconstruction. employed.

.It ,was before statedthata special type of transfer device,wasirequired in .a. machine of this type. When ,the machineis adding bydirect forward movement of the totalizer elements. the ordinary type oftransfer, ef- -fective;. whena wheelpasses. fromits nine -to-its zeroposition, isemployed; An entirely movel control of ,the transfer mecha-,nism-is also provided, effective when addit.ions-.. tal e place bycomplementary subtractingemovementsof the totalizer wheels. Thisadditional control comprises a device for-tripping the transfer elementswhen a register wheel moves at all inia subtracting direction, but-means .are provided for resetting ;the tripped transfer deviceif theregister wheel passes through or leaves its zero position. This transfermechanismmay nextbe described,

As eachone of the accumulator elements 60 makes a complete'rotation inan additive direction,'shown by full line arrow (Figs. 3 and4), atripping tooth 73 projecting from a disk 74 secured to the accumulatingelement 6O will engage with a prong 75 of a multi-pronged pawl 76, whichis pivoted upon a stud 77 projecting from a transfer lever 78, and rocksaid pawl 76 in a clockwise direction (Figs. 2, 3 and 4). This pawl 76is provided with'an offset 79 which overlaps a trip pawl 80 pivotedadjacent the pawl 76 upon the stud 77, and thereby rocks said trip pawlwith it against the tension of a spring 81 connecting said trip pawlwith another pawl 82 also pivotally mounted upon the'transfer lever 78.The offset 79 of the multi-pronged pawl 76 is held in engagement withthe trip pawl 80 by a'spring 83 interposed between the trip pawl and themultipronged pawl. This rocking of the trip pawl by the disk- 74releases a carrying pawl 84, which is pivoted upon the transfer lever'78 as at 85 and a spring 86 interposed between lugs on thetransfer'pawl 84 and the transfer lever 78 causes the transfer pawl torock in an anti-clockwise direction. -This movement of the transfer pawlbrings a shoulder' 87 formed thereon into engagement withav tooth of aratchet wheel 88 secured to the accumulator wheel 60 of the next higherdenomination. After an accumulator ele- 'ment has been fully operated byits actuator,

it is rocked out of engagement with the pinion 59 by the cam disk 66,and the transfer lever 78 is'then'rocked in a clockwise direc tion abouta rod 89 by a disk 90 having a cam groove 91', in which plays a roller92 mounted on the lower end of the transfer lever 7 8. "This rocking ofthe transfer lever will cause the tripped transfer pa-wl 84 to rotatethe accumulating 'element60, with which itcoiiperates, one stepin itsadditive direction. During this transfer operation the pawl 84'will berocked about its pivot 85 in a clockwise direction by the ratchet 88with which it cooperates so that at the end of ;the"clockwise movementof the transfer -leverj78 the transfer pawl84 will again be "latched bythe trip pawl 80. Upon the returnof the transfer lever 78 to its normalposition by the cam groove 91, the parts carried' thereby will again bein the position shown in Fig'si 3 and 4. The rod 89 upon 'which thetransfer lever 78 is 'pivotally mounted is supported by the sidearms 63of theacriumulator frame. "As thus far described the mode of operationof the transferfmecha'nism is already known in the art. The mechanismfor tripping the transfer devices when addition takes place bycompl'em'entary subtraction, may next be scribed. In every operation theregister pi'n'ions61 are engaged with the pinions 59 which form a partof the actuating mechanism. This position of engagement is shown in Fig.4 and the pinion 59 is in its normal or zero position. Each pinion 59 isprovided with a roller 93 projecting from one of the teeth, this rollerbeing normally in a position to engage a trip pawl 82. The subtractingdirection of movement of the pinion is shown by the dotted arrow. Thispawl 82 is provided with aprong 95 normally resting on the-upper surfaceof a portion of the transfer tri pawl'80. Thus the first movement ina-su tracting direction of pinion 59 will cause its roller 93 to engagethe inclined portion 94 of pawl 82 and rock it, thus rocking thetransfer trip pawl 80 and releasing the transfer pawl 84 precisely aswas described in connection with an operation'of direct addition. Thusit will be seen that the transfer mechanism is tripped or renderedeffective by the first subtracting movement of any accumulator wheel. Anexample of such an operation would beone where the totalizer wheelsstood at fourteen and eight were added thereto. In such an operation thedepression of the eight key and an operation of the machine would causethe actuating pinion 59 to be moved two spaces in the subtractingdirection. The first of these two steps would cause the roller 93 toengage and operate the pawl 82, thus tripping the transfer pawl:80 andpermitting the tooth 87 thereon to engage the ratchet 88 secured to theaccumulator wheels. Near the close of the operation of the machine thetransfer. pawl 84 will beoperated, moving the tens wheel one step andthus the wheels will indicate twenty-two, which is the proper result.

However, assume the register wheels have indicated twelve and seven isto be added. Here also the units wheel will be moved in a subtractingdirection and the transfer :mechanism tripped, but clearly no transfershould take place, as the tens wheel'should still 1 indicate one. Theresetting of the transfer pawl which has been tripped by the subtractingmovement of the units wheeliof the example is caused as next described.The

backward movement of the register wheel will cause its tooth 73 toengage theprong 75 of the trip pawl 76, rocking it in a directionopposite to its movement in an adding transfer operation. This pawl 76carries a projection 96 adapted to engage an upstanding portion of thetransfer pawl 84. Therefore, when the register wheel moves the thirdexample, assume the wheels to read 628 and 273 to 'be added. In thiscase the trans-- fer from units to tens'is the ordinary adding-transfer.'l he tens wheel moves in sub tractingdirection and it, therefore, wouldtrip the transfer for the hundreds-wheel, but it also passes throughzero and this tripped transfer device would, therefore,

-be-reset. 'However, when'the transfer device act-hm on 'thetens wheelis operated, near the -e ose'of the'oper'ationythis would move the tenswheel up to its zero position, thereby again tripping the transfer pawlfor the hundreds wheel. Thus the wheels which, after being directlyoperated would indicate 891; would be moved by the transfer devices soas to indicate 901, the correctresult. It will be seen that even in thisoperation the mechanism shown is entirely adequate to causethe transferproperly to take place. a

PaWIs 1'5O mounted upon the rod 8 9 are spring pressed into 'engagementwith the 'pinions (il of -the accumulator wheels for the purpose ofpreventing accidental displa-cement'of said wheels.

'As-shown-in 'FigJQ of-the drawings, an indicating mechanism isaprovided which mechanism is so constructed as to be moved from 'oneposition to another without returningto a norm'al starting position.This indicating mechanism is operated as'follows: Pivotally' mounted atits forward end to the actuator 14 as at 97 (Figsni and 3) is a beam 98,the extreme rearward end of which is connected by link 99-h) an=arm.100

securedto one of a-series of transverse shafts 101. one arm 100 isconnected to.=a pivotiallymounted segmental plate 102 by a link 103.This plate 102 is providedwith teeth 104, which mesh with a pinion 105-secured to-an indicator drum l-06iloosely mounted upon:atransverse-shaft 107, which issupported *bythe side frames 15 0f themachine The segmental plate 102 iszfurther provided witlr aliningnotches 108,:into which enters a pawlwl09-fast to a rock-shaft -110,:Rigid to and projecting forward from this/rock shaft-110-is an arml1l=WhiCha is connected tothe upper end of a pitman 112,- the lower endof the latter being slotted so as to straddie the main driving shaft 46(Fig. 9). I Projecting from the lower end-off thispitman 112 isna roller113, whichoplays in aeam groove 114 formed-in a :disk 115 secured toth'eshaft 46'. The shape. of the. cam groove is such that immediatelyuponnthe begin- "ning of rotation er the-shaft:46,.= the pitman 112 willbe movedvdownwardly and through arm 111 connected to the upper end ofsaid pitman, rock the shaft 110 and the alining '-:The actuators --14are then adjusted under control of-theekeys 1, as ,previously de--scribed,;by.whichmovement the forward end of. thebeam- 98 willberaisedor lowered depending upon-the direction of movement ofthe'actuator 14. During the positioning of saidactuators a shaft 116,carrying a forked lever-117 for each actuator, will be rocked inraclockwise direction, by which movement the forkedportion of each'leverwill engage with a roller 118 centrally mounted upon the beam 98. If theamount to be indicated is different from that previously indicated, oneof the prongs of the forked members of the lever 117 will engage withthe roller 118 and move said roller upwardly or downwardly until'itpasses into the crotch of the forked portion of the lever 117. Thismovement of the roller will cause the rearward end of the beam 98 torise or fall and'thereby cause the indicator 100 to be adjusted to itsnew position through the intervening connections from the rear endof-the beam .98 to the. segmental plate 102.

- Afterithe indicators 106. have been positioned, the cam disk 115 (Fig.9-) will -ele vate the pitman:112 so as to rock the shaft 110 (:Fig. 2)in aelockwise direction and thereby carry the.- paw-ls 109 into theproper ed position,after which the actuators 14 are restored to-theirnormalposition, it being understood thatthezforked levers 117 arewithdrawn from engagement with the rollers 118 of the beains 98. topermit .of this restorationof-the actuators 14. The shaft 116 carryingthe forked levers 117, of which there is one :for each actuator, hasextending upwardly therefrom an arm 119,-which is connected by alink-120 to an-arm 121 secured to the lowermost rock shaft 490 (Fig.

2), from which it will be seen that as the actuators 114 arebeing'positioned by the driving segments 16, the indicators are alsobeing positioned by the forked; levers 117 engaging with the rollers 118of the beams 98.

The purpose of-eonnecting the beams '98 to the segmental plates :102,through the transverse shafts 101 and link 103, is to enable theconnecting up of an additional set ofi-ndicators for indicating at theback of the machine and also to position-type carriers when itis'desired to use the same for recording-theamounts indicated andaccumulated, itbeinguriderstood that each of the -shafts 101: isconnected toi one of the actuators in a manner similan to that shown inFig. 2. a

-The depressed keys are released near the end .of the operationof themachine by the following-mechanism.

Each one of he links 11 supporting'the upper end of a key detent 7 is ofa bell crank formation, thezfree end of which is forked (Fig. 7).Through the forkedportion of all of-the links 11 extends a--rod 140supported by arms 141 extending for- :wardly from ,a rock'fishaft 142.i-Near one end this shaft has projecting forwardly therefrom an arm 113, which is fastened to the upper end of a pitman 14 1, the lower endof the latter being forked so as to straddle the shaft 46 (Fig. 8). Thispitman 14 1 near its lower end is provided with a roller 145, whichplays in a cam groove 146 formed in a disk 147 secured to said shaft 46.As this shaft nears the end of rotation the pitman 14A: is lowered and,through arm 143, rocks the shaft 142 in an anti-clockwise direction.This rocking of the shaft 142 Will cause the rod 140 carried by the arms141 to engage the lower members of the forked portion of the links 11and rock said links in a clockwise direction, by which movement thedetents 7 will be elevated and the depressed keys 1 released.

To prevent the release of the depressed keys by the release lever 130during an operation of the machine, the cam groove 1-16 of disk 147(Fig. 8) is so shaped that upon the beginning of rotation of the shafttfithe pitman 1414 will be elevated and, through the arm 14:3 and rockshaft 14-2, elevate the rod 14:0 (Fig. 7 to bring it in engagement withthe upper members of the forked portions of the links 11 and therebyprevent the rocking of said links to elevate the detents 7. Thismechanism will remain in this position until near the end of theoperation of the machine when the rod 1 10 will be lowered to releasethe keys as above described.

.The machine is shown as being operated by a crank handle 122 Fig. 1)but it is to be understood that any other Well known form of drivingmechanism may be employed. This crank handle 122 has secured thereto apinion 123 which meshes with a gear 124 suitably mounted upon the framework of the machine. This gear 124 meshes with a large intermediate gear125, which in turn meshes with gears 126 and 127 secured to the rotaryshafts a6 and respectively. This gearing is so proportioned that forevery two rotations of the crank handle the shafts 46 and 65 will begiven a single rotation.

It will be noted from the foregoing description that in so far as theoperator of a machine of the described type is concerned, the operationthereof is exactl like that of any of the many well known orms of addingmachines or cash registers. No attention is paid by the operator to thedirection or extent to which the parts are to be actuated, as said partsare automatically controlled by the novel form of mechanisms provided.

As before stated, it is thought that the theory of operation of thismechanism has not been previously suggested in the art.

As far as known there is no suggestion in the art of any machineoperating partly or wholly on the principle of complementary subtractionto add amounts. The mechaism which carries out this theory of operationin the present device is also believed to be broadly novel, especiallyin respect to the movement of the accumulating elements in the shorterof the possible directions, at each operation; in respect to theprovision of an actuator variably movable in different directions; and aseries of manipulative devices determining both the extent and directionof movement of the actuator. Again, it is believed to be entirely novelto provide a transfer mechanism operative in a constant sense ordirection but rendered effective by the movement of the accumulatingelements in either direction. In the embodiment shown one set only oftransfer elements is employed, but it is tobe understood that theinvention is not to be limited to this mode of operation, but that othertypes of transfer mechanism coming within the scope of the claims may beemployed.

While the form of mechanism herein shown and described is admirablyadapted to fulfil the objects primarily stated, it is to be understoodthat it is not intended to confine the inventionto the one form ofembodiment herein shown and described, as it is susceptible ofembodiment in various forms, all coming within the scope of the claimswhich follow.

What is claimed is 1. The combination with an accumulator comprising aplurality of movable elements, and means for always moving said elementsin the shorter direction in the accumulating of items thereon.

2. The combination with an accumulator comprising a plurality of'movableelements, of means for movingsaid' elements in the shorter direction inthe accumulating. of items thereon, :and transfer devices forsaidelements rendered operative in-either direction of movement of theaccumulator elements. a

3. In a machine of the class described,-the combination with a pluralityof accumulate. ing elements, of means for always moving said elements inthe shorter direction in the entering of items thereon, and manipulativemeans controlling said moving means.

4. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a pluralityof accumulating elements, of means'for moving said elements in theshorter direction in the entering of items thereon, manipulative meanscontrolling said moving means, and transfer devices for said elementsrendered operative in, either direction of movement of the accumulatingelements.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination with anaccumulator, of actuators and transfer devices therefor, and meanscontrolling the accumulator, actuators and transfer devices wherebyitems are accumulated by said accumulator by subtracting from the latterthe denominational complements of the item to be accumulated.

6. The combination with an accumulator of means coiiperating therewithin such a manner that an 'item is partially accumulated thereon byadding the item to or subtracting the complement thereof from theaccumulator depending upon the amount to be accumulated, and transferdevices adapted to complete the accumulation rendered operative byeither adding the item or subtracting the complement.

7. The combination with accumulating elements of means coiiperatingtherewith in such a manner that an item is partially accumulated thereonby moving the elements in either an adding or subtracting directiondepending upon the amountof the item to be accumulated, and transferdevices adapted to complete the accumulation rendered operative by themovement of the elements in either an adding or subtracting direction;

8. In a machine of the class described, the combination with anaccumulator having a plurality of denominational elements, of actuatorsfor moving said elementseither in an additive or subtractive direction,devices for transferring from an accumulator element of lower to anelement ofhigher de nomination, and means for rendering said transferdevices operative in either direc tion of movement of the accumulatorelements.

9. In a machine of the class described, the combination with anaccumulator having a plurality of denominational elements, of actuatorsfor moving said elements either in an additive or subtractive direction,and devices for transferring from an accumulator element of lower to anelement of higher denomination, the said devices being under the controlof the actuators when the elements are moved in a subtractive directionand under the control of said elements when they are moved in anadditive direction.

10. In a machine of the class described, the combination with anaccumulator having a plurality of denominational elements, of actuatorsfor moving said elements either in an additive or subtractive direction,devices for transferring from an accumulator ele ment of lower to anelement of higher dcnomination, means for rendering said transferdevices operative in either direction of movement of the accumulatorelements, and means for rendering said devices inoperative if theelements pass 0 in a subtractive direction.

11. In a machine of the class described, the combination with anaccumulator having a plurality of denominational elements, of actuatorsfor moving said elements either in an additive or subtractive direction,devices for transferring from an accumulator element of lower to anelement of higher denomination, means controlled by the actuators fortripping the transfer devices every time the elements are moved in asubtractive direction, and means controlled by the ele ments forrecocking said transfer devicesv if the elements pass 0 in a subtractivedi-. rection. Y

12. In amachine of the class described, the combination with anaccumulatorhaving a plurality of denominational elements, of actuatorsfor moving said elements either in an additive or subtractive direction,devices for transferring from an accumulator; ele ment of lower to anelement of higher de nomination, and independentmeansjfor tripping-thetransfer devices when the accumulator elements are moved in either anadditive 'or subtractive directiom with provisions for rocking thetransfer devices by the-nth ditive tripping means after the subtractivemeans have tripped said transfer devices providing the accumulatorelements pass 0 in a subtractive direction.

13. In a machine of the class described, the combination with anaccumulator element,-of' an actuator therefor movable in differentdirections, and means for. determining the direction of. movement ofsaid actuator. 3 i

l t, In a machine of the class described, the combination with anaccumulator element, of an actuator therefor variably movable indiflerent directions, and means for determiningthe extent and thedirection of movement of said actuator.

15. Ina machine, of the class described, the combination with anaccumulator ele ment, of an actuator therefor variably movable indifferent directions, and a series of keys for determining the extentandthe di rection of movement of said actuator.

16. In a machine of the class described, the combinationwith anaccumulator element, of an actuator therefor variably movable indifferent directions, driving mech anism for said actuator normallydisconnected therefrom, and a series of keys controlling the connectionof the actuator and the driving mechanism and also determining theextent and the direction of movement imparted to said actuator by thedriving mechanism.

17 In a machine of the class described, the combination with anaccumulator element, of an actuator therefor variably movable indifferent directions, driving mechanism for said actuator, normallyinoperative devices carried by the actuator for connecting-the drivingmechanism and the actuator, anda series of keys controlling theconnection of the actuator and the driving mechanism and alsodetermining the direction and extent of movement imparted to" saidactuator by the driving mechanism.

18. In a machine of the class described, the combination with anaccumulator element, of an-actuator tlierefor variably movable indifferent directions, drivin mechanism for said actuator, devicescarried by the actuator for connecting the driving mechanism and theactuator, operating means for'the drivin mechanism,- a series of keysfor determinmgthe extent and direction ofmovement of-the actuator,andmeans actuated-by the 'keysan-d. the operating means for controllingthe devices connecting the actuator and thed'rivingmechanism.

19. Ina'machine ofthe class described, the combination with anaccumulator, a series o f keys, and =means' controlled thereby foractuatin'g'said accumulator in the shortest direction in theaccumulation of items thereon.

20: In 'a -machineof the class described, the combination with anaccumulator, an actuato'r therefor :operable inthe shortest direction toactuate said accumulator inthe accumulation of'item's thereon, duplicatedriving means for driving said actuator in opposite' directions,manipulating means'a-nd devices controlled" thereby for rendering one ofsaid idrivingmeans effective.

21. In a machine of the class described, the combination 'withanaccuniulator, an actuat'or therefor operable in the shortest directionto actuate said accumulator in the accumulation-of itemsthereon,duplicate driving means for driving said actuatorin opposite directions,manipulative means and devices controlled thereby for rendering oneofsaid= driving meansefl'ectiv'e to drive the actuators in thedirection: appropriate to the value ofthe .key depressed.

22.111 a machine of the class described, the combination with anaccumulator, of an actuator therefor capable ofmovement in an additiveor .subtractive direction in the accumulations and means for controllingthe direction of movement of the actuator dependent onwthe value of theamount to be addedz- 23. In amachine of the class described, thecombination with an accumulator comprising-ha series of accumulatingelements, of a series of'actuators therefor each appropriate to acertain numerical order and capable of movement in either an additive orsub tractive direction in the accumulation of amounts on said totalizerelement, manipula' tive'means" and driving means controlled bysaidlatter 'means for independently driving eachof said actuators in thedirection requirin shortest movement.

-n accumulating wheel, means cooperating therewith for actuating saidwheel forwardly or reversely in the addition of items thereon accordingto the value of the items, and devices for automatically controllingthe'direction and extent of saidactuation.

25. In a calculating machine, the combina. tion with means movable inthe shortest direction in calculating operations, and devices forcontrolling the direction and extent of movement of said means accordingto the numerical value of the digitsof the items of calculation.

26. In a machine of the class described, the combination with atotalizer actuator having a normal starting point and capable ofdifierential movement in either direction from said point, of operatingmeans for said actuator, and means for controlling the direction andextent of movement of the actuator.

27. In a machine of the class described, the combination with anaccumulator element, of an actuator therefor, means for moving saidactuator-in opposite directions from a normal position, and latchmechanisms, c011 trolled for connecting the actuator and moving means sothat the actuator may be moved in either direction.

28. In a machine of the class dcscribed,the combination with anaccumulator element. of an actuator therefor, means for moving saidactuator in opposite directions from a normal position, a series ofkeys, and two latch mechanisms, one controlled by certain keys in theseries for connecting said actu-' ator and said moving means so that theactuator is moved in one direction, and the other controlled by theremaining keys for connecting said actuator and moving means so that theactuator is moved in the other direction.

29. In a machine of the'class described, the combination with anaccumulator element, of an actuator therefor, meansformoving saidactuator in opposite directions, two latch mechanisms for connectingsaid actuator and said moving means so that the actuator may be moved ineither direction, and manipulative means for selecting one or the otherof said latch mechanisms to connect the actuator and moving means duringan operation of the machine.

30. In a machine of the class described, the combination with anaccumulator element, of an actuator therefor, means for moving saidactuator in opposite directions, two latch mechanisms for connectingsaid actuator and said moving means so that the actuator may be moved ineither direction, and keys for selecting one or the other of said latchmechanisms to connect the actuator and moving means during an operationof the machine, and for controlling the extent of-movement of theactuator.

31-. In-a machine of the class described, the combination with anaccounting element,- of an actuator therefor, means for moving saidactuator in opposite directions, two normally ineffective latchmechanisms, for connecting said actuator and said moving means so thatthe actuator may be moved in either direction, and a bank of keys forrendering one or the other of said latch mechanisms effective uponoperation of the keys and for disabling the effective latch mechanismduring the operation of the moving means.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

FRANCESCO SKERL. Witnesses:

R. O. GLASS, CARL W. BEUST.

Copies 01 this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

